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Posted on Nov 08, 2010
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How do I determine if the car is front wheel drive or rear wheel drive?

  • Anonymous Nov 08, 2010

    What car?
    Very few cars are left, that are rear wheel drive

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1 Answer

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  • Master 8,197 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 08, 2010
Anonymous
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Generally, trucks, vans and large cars with big engines will have rear-wheel drive. Smaller, economy and compact cars are most often front-wheel drive. But you don't have to guess which one you have - find out for yourself.
jQuery('.intro .thumbnail').each(function(i,e){ jQuery(e).find('img').one('error',function(){ jQuery(e).remove(); }); }); Instructions

  1. Understand that front-wheel drive means the power from the engine and the transmission goes to the front wheels; rear-wheel drive means the power goes to the rear wheels. Four-wheel, or all-wheel, drive means all four wheels are powered.

  2. Open the hood.

  3. Find the front of the engine. The front of the engine is always where the belts are located.

  4. Look to see if the front of the engine is by the fender (side of the car). If so, then you have front-wheel drive.

  5. Check to see if the front of the engine is by the radiator and the grill (front of the car). If so, then you have rear-wheel drive.

  6. Look under the car near each front wheel. If you see an axle with a rubber boot (called the CV boot) on either end going into the wheel, then you have front- wheel drive.

  7. Look under the car between the rear wheels. If you see a large, metal, pumpkin- shaped thing (it's called the differential) with two axles coming out either side, then you have rear-wheel drive.

  8. Check both under the hood for the position of the engine and under the car for the axles to be sure, because not every car follows the rules for engine position and front- or rear-wheel drive (see Tips below for examples of cars with variations on this rule).


Good Luck

5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 58 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 17, 2008

SOURCE: Rear end noise from front wheel drive car

At that mileage it could be, and most likely is given your description of the noise. I assume it reduces in volume as you slow down. If you can find a quite piece of road drive up to where the noise is apparent and lightly swerve from left to right. (Don't roll the car!! ) If the noise reduces as you swerve left then its the left bearing. If its when you swerve right that the noise reduces its the right bearing. If its both the only way is to jack the rear up and spin the wheels as fast as you can and listen. If there's a hint of a rumble from it, its that bearing or both. It should be completely quite apart from the slight hiss as the shoes rub on the drum.
35K may not seem much but if you don't know the history of the car it could have hit a bad pot hole or even had a knock on a kerb.
I have replaced bearing with a lot less miles than yours.

Cheers John

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Fahr Quad

  • 776 Answers
  • Posted on Feb 24, 2009

SOURCE: rear or front wheel drive? (1986 Caravelle)

Thanks to Lee Iaccoca, all of the Mopar vehicles on the "K-car" and its replacement the "LH" platform are front wheel drive (thanks for nothing Lee). The standing joke was that LH stood for "Last Hope" for Mopar. Fortunately the Magnum, 300, Charger, and Challenger share the same rear wheel drive platform, with all wheel drive available as a relatively useless option.

Anonymous

  • 16 Answers
  • Posted on Aug 20, 2009

SOURCE: 2008 Dodge Avenger check engine light appeared

A dignosic tool needed to check for the fault. Autozone if you have one will be able to chk it for you or some parts store in your area may able to do that

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Sep 08, 2009

SOURCE: rear wheel brake lock-up

1995 Monte Carlo rear tires locked up ,goes into gear but wont move?

Anonymous

  • 713 Answers
  • Posted on Sep 20, 2009

SOURCE: 2003 Cavalier - are both front wheels drive

They are both drive wheels, but on these type of vehicles it is like a limited slip differential. When you give it gas and it gets in a bind it will lock in the other.

Testimonial: "Thank you - makes sense"

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How do I determine which is cylinder 6?

would need make and model to be sure. I am assuming this is a V6. In most cases the cylinders are numbered left to right front to back. (engine's Front, not vehicle front). In the case of a rear wheel drive vehicle number 6 would be the cylinder at the rear of the engine compartment on the right side. In the case of a front wheel drive, where the engine is mounted sideways then 6 would be on the front head, and the right most cylinder.
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Truck will only drive in 4wd, no power to rear wheels

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Rearend alignment

Some of the rear independent suspension models will flex depending on the weight inside the car. I have seen others which will tow in after being lifted off the ground. These will reset after a little driving.

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There are bushings in some of the pivots for the rear suspension and the rear struts can come with springs that can become weak. Either can give you excess toe-in.

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Hi.! I bought a Honda cr-v model 2003 and did not have manual book,how cal i tell if its two wheel drive or front wheel drive.is there an indication where can i look? Thanks..

Depends on the model, if it is all wheel drive it should have AWD on the back window.
The Honda CRV uses very smart technology to have AWD. Let me explain it simply. The CRV is essentially a front wheel drive car, but there are sensors mounted on all the tires that sense slipping. If the computer determines the wheel is spinning faster than the other ones, it uses hydraulics to engage the rear end differential and presto..All Wheel Drive. You do nothing, no switches, no levers, the computer does it all for you. If it is indeed AWD, you can look under the car to see if you have a driveshaft going into the rear differential (axle)

Please vote if this helped! Thanks, Mike
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EXPLAIN THE DIFERENCE BETWEEN THE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE AND THE REAR WHEEL DRIVE

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Rear cluch not working

Depends on what model and components you have:

{ ...
ENGINE TORQUE DISTRIBUTION – DIRECTING THE FLOW OF POWER
In an all-wheel-drive vehicle, engine power can be directed to all four wheels. Subaru Symmetrical AWD differs slightly from model to model in how it directs power to the wheels, depending on its transmission.

MODELS WITH FIVE-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION – CONTINUOUS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE: A viscous-type locking center differential and limited-slip rear differential help distribute torque – normally configured at a 50/50 split front to rear. If wheel speed differs between front and rear axles, the center and/or rear differentials lock up to help distribute power to the wheels with the most traction.

MODELS WITH FOUR-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS – ACTIVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE: An electronically controlled variable transfer clutch and limited-slip rear differential distribute power to where traction is needed. Sensors monitor parameters such as wheel slippage, throttle position, and braking to help determine torque distribution and direct it to the wheels with optimum traction.

MODELS WITH FIVE-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION – VARIABLE TORQUE DISTRIBUTION ALL-WHEEL DRIVE: As with Active All-Wheel Drive, an electronically controlled variable transfer clutch distributes power, but through a planetary-type center differential and a viscous-type limited-slip rear differential. Torque distribution is normally configured at a performance-oriented rear-wheel-biased 45/55 split front to rear. Sensors monitor the same parameters as for Active All-Wheel Drive.

WRX STI, WITH SIX-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION – DRIVER CONTROLLED CENTER DIFFERENTIAL (DCCD) ALL-WHEEL DRIVE: The STI uses an electronically managed multi-plate transfer clutch and a mechanical limited-slip differential in conjunction with a planetary-gear-type center differential to control power distribution between the front and rear wheels. Featuring manual and three automatic modes, DCCD is normally configured at a 41/59 split front to rear. Sensors monitor parameters such as wheel slippage, steering angle, throttle position, and braking to help determine torque distribution and direct it to the wheels with optimum traction. DCCD also features a limited-slip helical front and Torsen® rear differential. ... }

And what are the symptoms? How do you know the coupling to the rear is not working?
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Help me

Go look under the car & see if there are axles going to the wheels at the front & rear. 4 Axles & a driveshaft = 4 Wheel Drive.


No axles to the rear 2 wheels, it's Front Wheel Drive.

Only Axles to the rear, it's Rear wheel Drive.
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How do I determine if the rear wheel bearings are the problem on my 95 camaro.

Hi there,
first thing you'll have to jack the rear wheels and put the car on axle stands both sides.
Put some good wheel chokes in front and make sure the car is sitting nice on the stands.
Check for any excess play at the wheel hub by moving it side ways and up & down.
Now start the car, put it in drive and let the wheel turn and carefully put your hand on the rear suspension and feel if you sense any "rough" noise or humming noise. This is how you can diagnose the rear wheel bearings.
Cheers
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